Speaking to Stabroek News, Mohammed said that he would not comment on when Fly Guyana would commence operations as had been alluded to by acting Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali.
Ali is reported to have said that he expects Fly Guyana to commence operations in October.
According to reports, Fly Guyana hopes to commence its service in October and will be flying to New York daily.
Referring to Fly Jamaica, Mohammed said that the airline has submitted its documentation and this the GCAA was in the process of reviewing. “By the end of the week we should be through…they have to get their bond in place and their approval from the US and Canada,” Mohammed said.
According to Mohammed, Fly Jamaica would need about another two weeks to get all of their approvals with a view to commencing their service. The airline hopes to commence its service from Guyana to New York and Toronto by the end of July.
Guyana’s airlift suffered a severe blow not only with the exit of Delta Airlines in early May but also with Caribbean Airlines sharply increasing prices, coinciding with the peak travel period, weeks after Government named that airline as the national flag carrier. One month ago Cabinet gave its approval for Fly Jamaica to commence flights from here to New York and Toronto contingent on the company meeting all of the financial and technical requirements, including a $40 million bond.
Fly Jamaica was started by two aviation entrepreneurs – Guyanese Captain Ronald Reece of Wings Aviation, and Jamaican Captain Lloyd Tai. The airline, which is based in Jamaica, commenced its service to New York from Kingston, Jamaica in February this year.
Experts in the industry said that the entry into the market of operations will bode well for competition and prices. They believe too that while Caribbean Airlines and Fly Jamaica may serve well, Guyana still needs known international brands such as Delta, American Airlines and Jet Blue to boost tourism and offer services such as hotel packages.
